VLADIMIR Putin's fighter jets were captured forming a sickening Z symbol as his army prepared for a huge parade despite a massive death toll.

The dress rehearsal of the Victory Parade began in Moscow today with the event set to be attended by 11,000 troops.

Servicemen, cadets and representatives of military units will walk along the cobblestones of Red Square.

And eight jets were pictured in a Z formation with the letter that has become synonymous with the invasion of Ukraine.

The military parade has become an annual event on May 9, marking victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.

Under Putin, Victory Day is not only to remember the sacrifices of World War Two but has become a show of strength of troops and military hardware

It comes after the Kyiv Independent estimated that Russia's forces have lost over 25,000 troops since the start of the war.

Putin's invasion of Ukraine has not gone to plan with the Kremlin suffering severe casualties as the conflict rages on.

Mad Vlad - who is rumoured to be "cancer stricken" - has been forced to scale down the parade by a third according to figures.

And the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence claimed that Russian officers have been removed from battle positions to protect them ahead of the parade.

The ministry said that "the entire command staff of the 71st Motorised Rifle Regiment of the occupying forces" have arrived to protect top Kremlin personnel.

The statement also claims that "the Russian invaders are so afraid of the attack of the defenders of Ukraine that they forced the officers of the regiment to leave the battle positions and provide them with round-the-clock protection."

Viewers will see almost one and a half hundred combat vehicles made up of the latest tanks, armoured personnel carriers, anti-aircraft systems and Yars strategic missile systems. 

At the head of the mechanised column is the symbol of victory - the T-34 tank. 

And for the first time, Tornado-G multiple launch rocket systems will pass over the paving stones.